December 15, 2013, was marked by the South African state funeral for the late activist and advocate Nelson Mandela.

In this feature excerpted from OSMOS Magazine 03 (Winter 2014), photo-journalist Charlie Shoemaker’s pictures from the events surrounding Mandela’s passing on December 5 are paired with a text by Noah Rabinowitz. “On the surface, these images seem to be testimony of a keen observer’s eye…In this case, visible here is not the man in the flesh, but rather a collective memory and hope for the future as it passes through the landscape.”

“I was expecting to find people in mourning,” Shoemaker says, “but was surprised that the mood was celebratory.”

Today, we honor Mandela and his unwavering efforts and impact on countless human lives; collectively celebrating the person he was and the achievements he ascertained throughout his life.